A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A COMMISSION TO PREPARE PLANS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE DELAWARE SWEDISH TERCENTENARY IN 1938.

WHEREAS, the year, 1938, will mark the Three Hundredth .Anniversary of the first permanent settlement upon Delaware soil, a settlement which was made by the Swedes on the banks of the Christiana River on the site of the present city of Wilmington at a place called "The Rocks", and which was the first settlement of the colony of New Sweden; and

WHEREAS, this settlement was the beginning of a permanent government for the earliest permanent inhabitants of the present State of Delaware as well as of the present state of Pennsylvania and of western New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, The people of Delaware have always taken great pride in their history and traditions and have piously preserved for posterity their ancient landmarks; and

WHEREAS, it is proposed that a state, interstate, national, and international celebration be held in 1938, commemorating the first permanent establishment of European civilization in the Delaware River Valley at "The Rocks" on the Christiana River; Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein:

Section 1. That within three months after the approval of this Resolution, the Governor be and is hereby authorized and requested to appoint eleven (11) residents of this State, whom he has reason to believe are deeply interested in the history of Delaware, to form a commission to be known as the Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Commission.

Section 2. That the duties of said Commission shall be to prepare plans for a fitting celebration by the State of Delaware on the occasion of the Three Hundredth Anniversary in 1938 of the founding of the first permanent settlement and the establishment of the first permanent government upon the soil of Delaware at Fort Christiana near "The Rocks" on the Christiana River; and to cooperate with other Commissions or committees representing the city of Wilmington; historical, patriotic, and other societies of the State of Delaware and other states; the governments of other states; and the national governments of the United States and Sweden.

Section 3. That the said Commission be and it is hereby authorized to request and direct the Senators and Representatives of the State of Delaware in the United States Congress to urge and prepare proper legislation in order to enable the United States Director of the United States Mint to prepare and have minted United States Half Dollars suitably commemorating the anniversary. The number of such commemorative half dollars to be limited to twenty thousand in number, and the sale price to be set at $1.50 each. The profit from such sale shall be used at the discretion of the said Commission in defraying the expenses incidental to the celebration, and the remainder, if any, shall be paid into the General Fund of the Historical Society of Delaware.

Section 4. That the said Commission shall submit a report to the General Assembly in 1937, and make recommendations for further legislation by the General Assembly at that time.